Lazy Summer Daze - I mean Days...

I've been absent far too long, sorry! Part of it was lazy HOT summer days and little energy to do much and then I went on a little vacation last week. It was a business trip to the Ozarks and while I was really hesitant to go, I did end up enjoying a road trip and some shopping, so it was actually quite nice. ;)

I was really grumbling at first...not in the mood to go, but then I saw the bluest skies and the prettiest green trees - and well, you can't stay in a bad mood for long after that. Just look how we're getting ready here to drive down into the lush greenery ahead!

I wish I could show pictures of cute places we stopped at, but we were flying down the highway with no time to stop as there was a meeting that very day we had to make and nearly 4 hours of driving to do before we got there. So, I don't have pictures of the St. James winery, or any of the vineyards we passed, it's little known, but Missouri does quite a bit of wine making. I even would have been glad to stop for a minute to stretch my legs and check out The World's Largest Rocking Chair' at one point. LOL But sadly, we flew past that as well.

I didn't even manage to get pictures of the horses or cows we passed, and even once - an Emu farm! Instead, I have a picture of a field of rolled up hay:

Exciting, I know. ;) It was soooo hot last week. We were swimming through the air when we got out of the car. Ugh. Still, we stayed at a rather nice place - the Tan-Tar-A Resort. Lots of boats and an indoor water park, pools, horseback riding, etc.

Our view was amazing:

And every day we could see people parasailing soooo high in the sky!! They are far braver than I!!

The view must be amazing, but I'll never know, I'm a chicken.

Anyway, the resort was nice, but the best part was the huge Outlet Mall there - I bought so much stuff! I'll have to take a pic of my new purse - I just love it! We also had the best BBQ ever at a place called Wobbly Boots. Great ribs and a really delicious baked potato soup I wish I could get in St. Louis. Mmmm...

That's all for now, but I'll be sure to post regularly again. Hope you all are doing well!

The Trip, Pt. 2

Okay, I promise, last time I'll spam you with my Chicago trip pics. ;) I just had so much fun and found the city inspirational and had a great time so I wanted to share a little more and then shut up about it. Most of my pictures are from the window of our car as we sped past so I'm amazed at the quality considering. LOL And some are from the view of our room.

Isn't this beautiful?And our room - we stayed at the Hotel Monaco - great lobby, you can bring your pets and if you miss having a pet, you can get a goldfish at the front desk when you check in and they'll take care of it for you during your stay.

Plus the room was beautiful.

But the best part? The HUGE windows - they dominated the room - two of them this size - my dad was fascinated with laying down in the windows - he could literally have slept there.

Directly across from us was a beautiful HUGE building:

And aiming my camera upwards - the top was even prettier. At the bottom was a restaurant we ate at, they boasted having a speakeasy and that Al Capone was there. They served very good Irish food.

Turning my camera a little to the right - and wow - what a clock!!! So beautiful, and the canal behind it - the next day we watched boats go under the bridge back and forth with tourists.

Also in view - this totally weird building I've seen on TV, but is so captivating in person - apartments above and parked cars below. Don't the cars look like they are going to fall out?? Scary to walk near.

We also visited the Field Museum and I just love the replicas of the Porch of Maidens from Greece. The whole outside and inside is a work of art all on its own with so many statues and columns. Beautiful.

And the main attraction, of course was to see Sue the T-Rex. Very cool!!

And last, but certainly not least, the theater sign for the show we went to!! Craig Ferguson Live and SOLD OUT. Darn right! He was hilarious! I've never been to a live performance and the excitement and thrill was rather fun. He did two little dance numbers - one in the beginning and one at the end. My favorite episodes of his show are when he does those in the beginning.

All in all - great trip, great city and great time. So glad to get out of the house for the first time in years. It's tiring to travel, but SO worth it for the memories. (And the shopping...)

The Trip, Part One

I don't want to spam you guys with typical pictures of my vacation. But I did take a few cute pics that I thought would be interesting and worth sharing.

On the way we stopped a few times for breaks and one time was at an ultra retro 50's diner place. Kinda overdone, but cute at the same time. Good food.

Betty Boop took our order of course. ;)

And mom got all nostalgic at the 50's car toy hanging from the wall. ;)

it is and the drivers are a little crazy. I managed to snap off a few pics from my window to show how pretty the architecture is:

The beautiful old buildings are being kept up so well! And the details are amazing. But also - I have to say Bravo to the city planners that put so many beautiful flowers everywhere you go as they really brightened up the roads:

There were tulips EVERYWHERE and so pretty!. We stopped by the Millennium Park after the art museum and found the bean statue rather funny. It's so modern and weird and yet fun to look at different angles. People were having a ball taking their pictures around it. ;)

And then just as we were turning to leave and get our car - we spied this through the park!!

Yikes! Why isn't everyone running?? LOL Jurassic Park all over again. One more post with pics from our fantabulous hotel room - we went to Hotel Monaco - tres chic, fantastic view and within walking distance of the theater where we saw Craig Ferguson Live.

I had a great weekend - hope you guys did, too!!

Windy City Here I Come + Random Studio Pics

I'm heading off to Chicago for a long weekend - see the museums and see Craig Ferguson perform. Anyone got some tips or sights I should see?? I've been there before, but only briefly. Good restaurants or even better - good vintage-y shops would be a huge plus!

But until then, I spam you with pics of my studio I took while in a good mood with warm weather last week. I made up my daybed a bit, it make it useful as a guest bedroom and also when I desperately need to lie down and rest when my back hurts. Plus I've ALWAYS wanted a spare room for my favorite bed. It really suits my studio and makes me smile. I grabbed some random pillows laying around and voila - a comfy bed pour moi.

Next to my bed, probably already posted, but just in case:

An inspiration shelf with bits of my art and little tidbits and presents. The slugs from an old press spell out Art - kinda hard to see. Love the backwards R. ;) The Eiffel Tower was a present from Fairy Godmother, naturally. It's so bright and airy in here - can you believe this is our basement? Lots of big windows and light and a view of my garden - such a lovely room.

I love the white beadboard walls, at first it made it stark and boring, but now I appreciate how they bounce the light and make my art and furnishings pop out more. And I'm filling it with my favorite shades of pale pink and green, turquoise, other shades of white, etc. Makes me very happy to spend time in there. I just need to get out my hammer and nails and hang up a few of my favorite artists' works I've collected. ;)

So please let me know if you have any recommendations for Chicago and just in case don't post again til then - have a great weekend!!

Pinch me! And help me pack my bags...

I almost don't want to post about it, but I'm so hopeful at least one of the things I'm reporting comes true that I won't jinx it by admitting them. We may actually, after years of not being able to - travel!!



Yes, indeed, leave the state and see other places and experience new things like...

#1 on the list:

Go see a celebrity do stand up - and not just any one - THE one - the man my mother has fallen in love with and jokingly calls her 2nd husband - Craig Ferguson!!!

(And yes, my dad is jealous, though he won't really admit it)

Oh, you cheeky monkey!

Now, I like him, too, but my mother has gone totally insane for him in the past few months and it may be noted now that my mother has taken 58cherries to twitter (entirely on her own - she doesn't contribute to this blog and I haven't even read her twitter yet so it is two different people so there is no confusion, but we share the name).

She's soooo excited and I'm excited for her, but also, like I said, we share a love for him. A: He's Scottish. Huge plus for us, the accent alone makes our hearts go pitter pat (and I'm proud to say - I'm part Scottish and our last name is the Scottish word for Fox). B: After reading his book: American on Purpose - I really admired his complete candor and humor - he's the kind of guy I actually feel I'd like in person, not so with most celebrities. C: His musical video/intros. Man, do I LOVE those - my dream is if he did one for the show we go to, but the chances are very very very slim, it's stand up and he does them so rarely on his own TV show so I won't get my hopes up (my two faves: Istanbul - BEST! 2nd best: Addicted to Love w/Rosie - love the song and he cross dressed - HILARIOUS!!)

We'll be going to Chicago for the taping - just a weekend trip. And best of all for me is to visit the museums again as the last two times my trips got cut way short and there is so much there I want to see still. I sooooo hope I am up to this trip in time. Please let my back heal faster!!!! I will take my wheelchair, I think. It'll be necessary, I fear with all the walking in the museums. But - yippee!!


#2 Boston!!!

Now this isn't ironclad so I probably just jinxed it, but what the heck, I went to Boston once and LOVED it. We were exceedingly lucky to get my mom's work to okay the time period it would have to be during - it's my father's business trip.

She would LOVE Boston and I so want to show it off to her. The only trip better (than Hawaii, really) would be Seattle - I hated going to both coasts without her as she'd love them even more than I did. So maybe, just maybe Boston!!! Lobster rolls - actually I prefer crab, seafood chowders, fresh fish, a little trip to Salem maybe, who knows how far around we'll get to go - I've been to their excellent aquarium as I'm the type of gal that visits every city's aquarium for some reason - just love them. (warning to those who visit the Boston aquarium - watch where you park, they have a little parking trap nearby and our rental car was towed - baaaad experience).

So - does anyone who lives/lived/traveled there who has any recommendations for what we should see while there?? Oh, I have already been to the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum and loved it - have to take my mother there. But seeing as how I probably jinxed it...oh well. LOL I want to see the two Holbeins they have there and the Mary I portrait again - they were wonderful to see the first time and I can just stand there an STARE at the beautiful work that went into those paintings.

(If that trip doesn't pan out - I want to go to Pensacola, Fl. then - I've been a few times and it never disappoints with its beautiful white sands and turquoise water. It was our original destination, but then the Boston possibility opened up and cancelled that plan, *sigh* was looking forward to that beach again.)

So there you have it - one trip locked in pretty much (we have the Ferguson tickets) and maybe Boston!! Oh, I hope we get to go to Boston or at least Pensacola - we desperately need a vacation longer than a weekend - I can't remember how many years it has been now - not even a weekend trip - which means it is far too long. Cross your fingers for us, please??

And any restaurant tips for Chicago or Boston are much appreciated.
Oh, I was just too happy to not share the news. *happy sigh*

And also - my mom's hoping to see Craig at Carnegie Hall with her sister (my Fairy Vintage Godmother, btw) - it's a slim chance but one I hope they get to do - they both deserve it!!

Sorry it wasn't a crafty or decoration post - actually it would have been if somone hadn't hidden my camera on today of all days - grrr!! Hopefully it won't be overcast tomorrow and I can actually figure out the camera I got for Christmas - it's a more complicated than I'm used to and I haven't even tried it out for myself yet. It'll be fun to see if I get a decent pic.

Happy Monday!! I know mine has been.